A CLOSE ASSOCIATE OF CHARLES LEADBEATER CLAIMS HE WAS A PEDERAST

 

 

Previously editor’s note

 

There has come into my possession, without restrictions as to its use, a copy of a letter written to Mrs. Besant, May 20, 1921, by Mr. T.H. Martyn, former General Secretary of the Australian Section, Theosophical Society, former Corresponding Secretary of the Australian Esoteric Section, a member of thirty years’ standing, who has done more than any other one person to build up the Society in Australia. This is one of the most important and significant documents which has yet appeared, bearing on the present crisis in the Theosophical Society Copies of this letter can be obtained from this office by properly accredited Theosophical Society members.

 

It is quite evident from the letter that the writer is addressing Mrs. Besant in great spiritual perplexity over some damning facts concerning certain Theosophical Society members of high standing. It appears among other things that Wedgwood, Presiding Bishop of the Liberal Catholic Church, is wanted by the police on charges of sodomy that his colleagues Bishop King, and Priests Farrar and Clark, of the same church, were wanted on similar charges, and that Farrar and Clark had to flee from England to escape arrest. It further appears that Leadbeater, self-confessed teacher of immoral practices to boys prior to 1906, was at that time wanted by the British police, and that much later he was a guest in Martyn’s house in Sydney, but that having to leave temporarily he had to be refused permission to return because (1917-1919) it transpired that naked boys had been found in his bed and that other matters of a compromising nature had occurred, of which he “touches merely the fringe.”

 

It appears also that Mrs. Besant ordered that Wedgwood must leave the Theosophical Society and the Esoteric Section in order to protect the good name of the Society, but that she cancelled this order on representation of Mr. Jinarajadasa that this would reflect on the infallibility of Leadbeater, who had proclaimed Wedgwood to be an initiate. The cable correspondence between Mrs. Besant and Jinarajadasa on the subject is given. Mr. Martyn further states that to his own know ledge Leadbeater is a sex pervert, and he wants to know how the various matters referred to above are to be reconciled with the protection and holding up as leaders and spiritual examples of the persons mentioned. Mr. Martyn’s well known characteristic of conservatism and moderation is well illustrated in the tone of the letter, which should be read by all who are interested in maintaining the purity and good name of the Theosophical Society.

 

(O.E. Library Critic, vol, 11, No. 10, December 21, 1921, p.4)

 

 

 

 

 

Excerp from Mr. Martyn letter to Annie Besant

 

« In 1906 I was in London fighting your cause and Leadbeater’s police proceedings against the latter were seriously threatened. One of his boys in desperate trouble urged me to try and prevent them being proceeded with and admitting that the only evidence he could give confirmed Leadbeater’s immoral practices. The police proceedings did not eventuate. I went away to Africa soon after and on returning I tried to forget what this confession involved, to explain it away: and succeeded.

 

In 1914 Leadbeater came to live with us in Sydney. I took him at his own valuation and yours, regarding him as an Arhat; permitted myself to come sympathetically under his influence and gladly made effective all his plans. As time went on I certainly got many little shocks.

. . .

By this time (1917) Mrs. Martyn had become intensely unhappy about C. W. L. in the house. She had seen naked boys in his bed and other facts had come to her knowledge. I refused to sympathize with her views and for my sake she kept her peace and I held things together.

 

Later (1918-19) scarlet fever in the house caused Leadbeater and his boys to move out temporarily and all my persuasions were insufficient to induce Mrs. Martyn to have him back again. She point-blank refused —though again in consideration for my own feelings— she told me nothing of what she knew. I only learned that on my return from America, 1919-20.

 

In 1919 I went to America. Young Van Hook was in New York. He talked freely of Charles Webster Leadbeater’s immorality and about faking the “lives” of people. In your reviews of some letters sent you by Raja which reached him from America things which Van Hook says about the “lives” you credit me with —that by the way. Now here is the evidence of two Leadbeater boys (my 1906 experience— I can give you the name if you want it — and young Van Hook) both subsequent to the 1906 inquiry and subsequent both to the confessions of all the American boys and to C.W.L.’s admissions at the enquiry of 1906.

 

I have put these pieces of evidences together and add to them the compromising facts of life in my house (I am only touching the fringe of this in this letter) and find staring me in the face the conclusion that Leadbeater is a sex pervert, his mania taking a particular form which I have— though only lately— discovered, is a form well known and quite common in the annals of sex-criminology. »

 

(O.E. Library Critic, vol, 11, No. 11, January 4, 1922, p.4-8)